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Hi All, first post here, new to the forum. The reason I am here is to find out the bold faced TRUTH about lowering the 2012 Ram 1500.

I want to know the Pro's and Con's of two kits specifically. I've been researching for quite a while and have come to some conclusions but I have never seen any posts about the installation process or what happens after the lowering is done and you are living with the results... So I want to see what REAL people have to say about REAL trucks in REAL environments, with REAL results. I don't want to hear from someone who's friends, girlfriends, bff's step dad lowered his old chevy... ya know what I mean?

If you have ONE or the OTHER of these kits, I want to hear from you:

1. McGaughy's 2/4 spindle kit.
2. Belltech 2/4 spring/shock kit.

MCGaughy's: I hear that this kit is exceptional and that the alignment can be set back to stock and the ride is very much the same as stock. I don't as much care about the ride as I like the suspension a little stiffer and fun. What I do care about are four things:

1. The spindle kit widens your wheel spacing on front by about 5/8". Does this cause ANY wheel rub under ANY circumstance, especially with the 22" R/T rims and tires?

2. Is anyone experiencing any abnormal tire wear now that they have lowered their truck? Is anyone having alignment issues, or any other concerns beyond normal?

3. How does McG's lower the rear of the truck 4" but still use the stock shocks? Are they relocating a shock bracket or are they just using up 4 extra inches of the stock shocks which might be able to bottom out now? I've heard of people buying this kit and buying the Belltech 4" lowered shocks to replace the stock shocks.

4. Why do you have to cut the stock front wheel brake dust covers? If I buy a second set, are they easy to install so I can keep my stock covers unscathed? What else do I have to permanently modify on my truck? Do I have to CUT bump stops out or do they unbolt? Anything else?

I want to hear only from people who know for a FACT because they have this setup and/or have had problems, etc.

Belltech sping/shock kit:

1. I'm seeing that a lot more people are using this kit, why? Is it because you don't want to pay for the Spindle kit or is this one really better?

2. Same question about alignment and tire wear, anything unusual?

3. Same question about modifications? Would love to keep it all "stock reversible"

4. How stiff is the ride with this kit, do you feel like you are sitting in a race car and feeling every pebble on the road? I like sporty but there IS a limit...

My last concern beyond tire wear, tread life, etc, is warranty. I was fortunate enough to buy the lifetime unlimited mile mechanical warranty which covers anything mechanical for life as long as I, the original owner, still own the truck. Has anyone ever had any warranty work declined due to lowering the truck? The dealer tells me that "just my suspension warranty will be void" but I've heard horror stories about engine and transmission problems being caused by "non factory drive shaft angle". Is this a true statement? Again, I don't want speculation and gab about stuff, I want cold hard facts from people who have experienced ANY of my concerns. I want to keep this thread clean, complete, and TRUE so that when the next guy searching for hours and hours can finally find a nice complete thread that will answer his every question.

Sorry to sound like an ay hole right off the bat, not trying to be, just frustrated at looking at threads that say "just cut your stock springs and you're set". Money is not an object and I only want the best. Thanks in advance for your input.

Hi All, first post here, new to the forum. The reason I am here is to find out the bold faced TRUTH about lowering the 2012 Ram 1500.

3. How does McG's lower the rear of the truck 4" but still use the stock shocks? Are they relocating a shock bracket or are they just using up 4 extra inches of the stock shocks which might be able to bottom out now?

4. Do I have to CUT bump stops out or do they unbolt? Anything else?

Sorry to sound like an ay hole right off the bat, not trying to be, just frustrated at looking at threads that say "just cut your stock springs and you're set". Money is not an object and I only want the best. Thanks in advance for your input.

my following comments apply ONLY to the rear 4" drop of the McG 2/4 kit:
(which btw only yielded 3" if that on my light V6 RC/SB...)

3. McG supplies shorter sway bar links and a track bar relocator bracket,
but as you note, uses the stock shocks.
I think that's OK since if yu think about it,
lowering (with shorter coils) is simply moving the axle into a different region of the STOCK suspensions travel.
you are not 'leaving' the normal range for either the shocks or other linkages..
(well maybe at FULL compress you may be ;0 )

4. on my '13 the rear bump stops sit in a metal cup welded upside down on the underside of the frame rail;
these cups must be removed to make way for the axle to travel.
they could be welded back on later w/o too much trouble.
removing them is somewhat difficult and took me about an hour to do both,
on a lift, with a cutoff wheel & sawzall & air chisel..

I have the McG's 2/4 spring kit as well. The instructions tell you to remove the bump stop cup, but after looking at where the new bump stops end up, they go right into the stock cup. So I didn't see any reason to remove them and gain maybe 1/4" of travel. I've had no issues with this setup.The stock bumpstops (big yellow things) can just be pulled out by hand btw. Like hemi said, you'll only get about a 3" drop in the rear with an R/T, so if you want the full 4", you'll have to trim the rear springs (1.5-2 coils). As far as I can tell, I haven't bottomed out the suspension.

The truck handles alot better. The ride is barely stiffer but handles more like a car than a truck now. Much more fun to drive. I'll be installing a Hellwig rear sway bar this weekend, so that should make it even better.

1. I'm seeing that a lot more people are using this kit, why? Is it because you don't want to pay for the Spindle kit or is this one really better? i didn't like the idea of the front tires sticking out.

2. Same question about alignment and tire wear, anything unusual?I haven't had my drop on long, but no issues to report. I got an alignment right after installing the drop.

3. Same question about modifications? Would love to keep it all "stock reversible". Should be reversible as far as I know.

4. How stiff is the ride with this kit, do you feel like you are sitting in a race car and feeling every pebble on the road? I like sporty but there IS a limit...It's definitely stiffer, but it now handles A LOT better. No body roll and takes turns like it's on rails.

One issue some people experience is a rear end wobble at high speeds. I don't experience this, but people that do help the problem with an adjustable panhard bar from Spohn.

Your's looks sweet! My '12 is black, looks just like yours. Did your BT kit come with the pan hard relocation bracket? Any chance you can post some more pictures? The color is a little dark so I can't really see the wheel gaps. Thanks.